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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

No Releases in Sixth Year of Proceedings

Nilay Vardar of Bianet reported on the proceedings of the trial related to the underground Marxist Leninist Communist Party(MLKP) that has been pending for six years. Of the 24 defendants of the case, 12 are detained among them also three journalists: Özgür Radio Publications Director Füsun Erdoğan, Atılm newspaper General Publications Co-ordinator Sedat Şenoğlu and Atılım newspaper writer Bayram Namaz. Here are excerpts:None of the twelve detained defendants, among them several journalists, was released at the hearing of the MKLP trial on 23 February. The next hearing was scheduled for 29 May.Detained defendant journalist Füsun Erdoğan addressed the Turkish Government and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan in particular in her speech before the Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court in Beşiktaş.

"It is demagogy aimed at confusing the public to state that only nine journalists are in prison and that the detained journalists stand accused of 'harassment' or 'rape'"."In the 1980s, people were forced with torture to testify. Nowadays, they are being accused on the grounds of evidence that was prepared beforehand. We are here today because of the Anti-Terror Law (TMK). They have been keeping me in prison for six years and have victimized me. I am asking myself why I have been in prison for six years."